Narrative in Film (Part 3) Non Linear Narratives

Non-linear Narratives

Films have a big advantage in how they can tell stories.

  • They are not bound by the rules of normal time!

Editing can reorder screen time, which is different from reel time (the duration of the film), and this reshaping of the narrative can add to the audience’s pleasure of the film. How?

Task 1 – Exploring some Non-Linear Films

Think of a film, which plays tricks with its narrative and or characters. Try to describe what it does with the structure of the story and how that might enhance our pleasure. Some notable examples:

  • Dunkirk
  • Inception
  • Memento
  • Shutter Island
  • The Sixth Sense
  • Pulp Fiction
  • The Last Five Years
Here is a short film, which plays with narrative and uses an interesting narrative structure.

Some Video Essays on Narrative:
1) Controlling Narrative Information

2) A Narrative Analysis of a Cult Film (Memento)

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